As most of you know, I have been working diligently to meet my personal deadline of getting an airworthiness inspection by July 1st. That is still my goal but I have encountered an unexpected set back. I have boasted that I have had a totally leak free engine for the past 17.8 hours. Well. that changed today at the 18.0 hour mark. I have a major leak developing around my starter mounting plate. Upon close examination, I have determined that the starter has actually bent the 1/4" 6061-T6 angle which the mounting bracket was made from. It is back to the drawing board to make a yet stronger mount for my starter. I guess there is something to be said about test running an engine on the ground before flight. It took eighteen hours for this to develop and I am glad I was not in the air dripping oil and not knowing it.
vAIRCRAFT web site at http://mywebpage.netscape.com/n886mj/homepage.html
